GB1599821A

GB1599821A - Folding seat and table unit

Info

Publication number: GB1599821A
Application number: GB1897/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Manufacturas Vega SA
Current assignee: Manufacturas Vega SA
Priority date: 1977-03-01
Filing date: 1978-01-17
Publication date: 1981-10-07
Also published as: IT1111413B; IT7867411A0; BE863058A; JPS53134560A; FR2382214A1; NL7801325A; DE2807941A1; LU78900A1

Description

(54) A FOLDING SEAT AND TABLE UNIT (71) We, MANUFACTURAS VEGA S.A., of Idaizabal, s/n - Urnieta (Guipuzcoa) Spain a Spanish Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention concerns a folding seat and table unit.

Lack of space in dwellings is becoming an ever more pressing problem, due to the facts that the dwellings themselves are being built smaller now than ever before, and that the occupants of the dwelling acquire many different kinds of household appliances which, when they are installed, cause the problems of lack of space to become even more acute. This problem is at its worst in kitchens where the range of appliances is so great that it has become necessary to adopt solutions to the space problem in which appliances and/or items of furniture are stacked so as to develop the installation in a vertical direction to accomodate everything it is desired to have in the kitchen.

Furthermore, the pace of life today coupled with the almost total disappearance of domestic servants, means that it has, in many become impractical to serve daily meals in a dining-room, and it has therefore become necessary to equip the kitchen with a set of seats and a table, which enables the kitchen to be used for eating. Such a table and set of seats take up a large proportion of the space available in a crowded modern kitchen.

Attempts have been made to meet this problem by constructing an extending table (or table top alone) of folding design, intended to be folded and stowed inside a piece of furniture when not in use. However, none of the known proposals of such arrangements provides a total solution to the problem as the situation with regard to seats is not dealt with. An arrangement in which folding seats are used and placed (in an unfolded position) around a table when it is extended means that when the table is folded and concealed it is necessary to separately fold the seats and store them in a suitable place.Therefore with such an arrangement there is still a considerable amount of space taken up, the procedure of arranging the table and seats in an operational or service position, (and conversely the procedure of folding and putting away the table and the seats) involves a great deal of effort and time.

According to the invention there is provided a folding seat and table unit comprising an articulated assembly, which may be unfolded to an operational position in which seats in the unit are arranged in positions ready for use adjacent respective parts of the unit, and which may be folded to conceal the seats within a framework of the unit, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of supporting structures successively moveable away from a fixed supporting structure, said supporting structures being arranged generally parallel to one another, each adjacent pair of supporting structures being interconnected by a scissor arrangement associated therewith, ends of each said scissor arrangement being coupled to respective slides moveable on guides forming parts of each of the pair of supporting structures associated with that scissor arrangement, the extent of movement of said slides determining the amount by which each adjacent pair of supporting structures may move apart such that when the unit is unfolded a first supporting structure moves away from the next supporting structure adjacent it by an amount determined by the extent to which said slides may move after which movement said next supporting structure begins to move away from the supporting structure next adjacent to it, and where in the slides associated with the last moveable supporting structure of the unit are coupled by a joining piece rigidly fixed to one slide and including a slotted groove cooperating with a bolt carried by the other slide to define an amount of free movement and enabling the scissor arrangement associated with the last moveable supporting structure and said fixed supporting structure to have a longer range of travel than between any other pair of supporting structures.

Embodiments of the invention alleviate or overcome the aforementioned disadvantages because upon all the parts and members of the unit being conjoined and linked together, movement of the unit, (whether it be to a folded or to an extended position) is carried out in an organized and orderly manner.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of kitchen furniture embodying the invention in an unfolded position Figure 2 shows the piece of furniture of Figure 1 in a folded position Figures 3 and 4 are two plan views showing a framework of a table unit in Figures 1 and 2 in a folded position, and in the process of being unfolded, respectively.

Figures 5 and 6 show side and plan views respectively of the framework of Figure 3 where it is completely unfolded.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are detailed views of part of the unit.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are an elevational view (partly in section) a plan and a side elevational view of part of the unit of Figure 1.

Figures 13 and 14, 15 and 16, 17 and 18, and 19 and 20 are elevation and plan views respectively showing a diagrammatical illustration of panels which together comprise a flat table top in the unit in various positions.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a member in the unit.

Figure 22 shows a partially sectioned perspective view of the end of attachment area between two adjacent panels in the unit.

Figure 23 is a schematic side elevation of Figure 22.

Figures 24 and 25, 26 and 27 are respectively sets of two views similar to those of Figures 22 and 23, but showing the members in the positions they adopt when they are half and fully erected respectively.

Figures 28 and 30 are perspective views of steadying supports, prior to and after erection, respectively.

Figure 29 is a front view, showing guides in the unit.

Figure 31 is a perspective view showing an outside wheel of the unit.

Figure 32 shows details of how panels of the unit terminate.

Figure 33 is a sectional view along the centre line of a spindle carrying travelling wheels of the unit.

Figure 34 is a perspective view of the outside of the piece of furniture or cabinet with the unit folded away.

Figure 35 is a sectional elevation of a rim used for finishing the front of the assembly.

The section shown in this figure is that depicted in Figure 36.

Figure 37 is a schematic perspective view of one of the seats in the unit. The members of this seat are shown schematically in unfolded and folded positions in Figures 38 and 39.

Figure 40 is a perspective view of a seat where all its members are shown in the process of being assembled.

Figures 41, 42 and 43 are perspective views of a seat seen from underneath, and they show the sequence which takes place when the seat is unfolded or folded.

Figure 44 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sprung telescopic arm in the assembly.

Figure 45 is a perspective schematic view showing the bottom of a foot in the assembly.

Figure 46 is a sectional elevational view of a part of the assembly comprising each of the legs of the table. The sections shown in this Figure are those of Figures 47 and 52.

Figures 48, 49 and 50 are views of a bevelled member in the assembly.

Figure 51 is a perspective view of a diametrical section across a finishing member in the assembly.

Figure 53 is a cross section of an outside tube on each leg. The section shown in this Figure may be seen in Figure 53.

Figures 55, 56 and 57 are perspective elevational and plan views of a part of the assembly.

Figures 1 and 2 show a unit comprising a table 1 and seats 3. Each seat 3 is attached to the structure of the table so forming a single articulated unit. The seats 3 are attached to the table 1 by rotatable and/or sliding mechanical joints allowing each seat 3 (and its back rest 71 if fitted) to be arranged in an open or operational position, and be located so as to correspond with the different sections of the table 1 as can be seen from Figure 1. When the table 1 is folded, the seats 3 are simultaneously folded, and concealed within the structure of the table, enabling the unit to be folded into a small volume, which may be concealed inside a piece of furniture 4.

The framework of table 1 comprises a series of basic supporting members 5, 7, 8 and 9 the first three 5, 7 and 8, of which are movable, whilst the last, 9, is fixed. The supporting members are joined by articulated scissor arrangements, each of which is defined by two arms 13, (see Figures 3 and 6).

Each support member carries a joint 12 attached to an arm 13, and additionally has a guide 6 on which a slide 10 is movable.

Member 5 also carries a panel which is fitted with a handle enabling the unit to be operated manually. Both the panel and the handle carried by member 5 are matched to the other parts that together form the article of furniture.

Whenever the unit is unfolded or folded the slides 10 travel upon guides 6, so as to move the support members toward or away from one another, until the unit attains its fully unfolded or folded condition.

Resilient stops 11 are fitted on the guides 6 to define the extent to which the unit may be unfolded. The resilient stops 11 moreover provide a buffer preventing impacts which would otherwise be detrimental to the structure.

As may be appreciated from a simple examination of Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 when the system is unfolded or folded there will initially be movement of the member 5 relative to the member 7, whilst the other members remain stationary (this effect being due simply to mechanical inertia, since, all the supporting members have runners enabling them to readily travel over the floor).

After the initial movement of member 5 relative to member 7 there is movement of the members 7 and 8 relative to one another and relative to the stationary support member 9.

This movement is carried by the slides 10 and 18 which are to either side of support member 8, are inter-connected by a synchronizing member 15, which, as can be seen from Figures 7, 8 and 9, comprises a plate attached firmly by screws onto the slide member 10, and is provided with a slotted hole 16, in which a holder or bolt 17 attached to slide 18 engages.

This arrangement ensures that upon the commencement of travel (when either unfolding or folding the unit) the slides 10 and 18 associated with support 8 travel together so that subsequent movement of the scissor arrangement between support member 8 and stationary support member 9 is enabled to the extent allowed by the slotted hole 16 which encloses the bolt 17.

In this way, the synchronizing member 15 associated with the two last scissor arrangements in the system, accomplishes a dual purpose, namely: 1) Making the two last scissor arrangements, or the two last travelling supports members 7 and 8 move in unison with one another.

2) Allowing movement of the last scissor arrangement (that is the one interconnected between the stationary support member 9 and the last travelling support member 8) to continue so as to enable greater travel, away from the cabinet 4, of the structure which carries table top 2, once the travelling support 8 has moved through its full range.

Each travelling support member is formed of two columns 26 which form legs for the table 1. The legs 26 of each pair are joined by appropriate cross members.

Each leg 26 incorporates a support body 25 having an arm 74 carrying a respective one of the seats 3. All the seats 3 belonging to the unit are the same, (even though - in Figures 4, 5 and 6 - they are given different reference numerals) which are used to distinguish between the seats 3 to one side and those to the other side of the unit.

A pair of plates 19 and 20, arranged in juxtaposition and rotatable about a common axis 21 (as may be seen from Figure 4) is placed upon each of the cross members between the pairs of legs 26.

It will be seen from Figure 11 that the upper plate 19 is provided with a slot 31 which at one of its ends, terminates in a widened section 35, and the lower plate 20 has a further slot 32, which terminates in a widened section 33 at one of its ends.

A pin 22 lies within the slot 31 of each plate 19. Each pin 22 is carried by a respective slide bush 10 of the appropriate scissor arrangement 13, so that when the framework of the unit is fully unfolded or folded the pin 22 lies at the outermost end of slot 31 (as is shown in Figures 3 and 11).

Upon commencement of an unfolding operation, which causes movement of the slide bush 10 and pin 22 assembly, the pin advances along the length of slot 31, causing plate 19 to rotate about the axis 21 (as may be seen from Figure 4).

At a given moment during its travel along the slot 31 pin 22 reaches and enters the slot 32 in the plate 20; plate 20 now begins to rotate about the axis 21.

Each plate 19 has at one of its ends a toothed sector 34, which engages a pinion wheel 28. Each plate 20 has a toothed sector 36 which, by means of an idler pinion 29, (the sole purpose of which is to reverse the direction of rotation) is coupled to a pinion wheel 30, so that rotation of the plates 19 and 20 is converted into rotation of the pinion wheels 28 and 30 (see especially Figures 11 and 12).

It will be seen from Figure 10 how each pinion wheel 28 is mounted on the top of a shaft 40, the opposite end of which carries a pinion wheel 39, engaging a gear wheel 37.

Gear wheel 37 is attached to the outside tube 38 of the appropriate column or leg 26 of the unit. A body 25 carrying the appropriate horizontal arm 74 for supporting a respective seat 3, is attached to the outside tube 38 of table leg 26 a similar arrangement is provided for the other pinion wheel 30.

In this way, rotation of the pinion wheels 28 (as well as rotation of the pinion wheels 30) is converted into rotation of the supporting bodies 25 and of the seats 3 carried thereby.

Following the above description, a definition may now be given of the behaviour of all the mentioned members and parts in conjunction. To this end Figure 3 illustrates the unit in its folded position with each pair of seats 23 and 24 associated with legs 26 on any single cross-member, clustered together in pairs beneath the framework of the unit, said seats taking up positions in a vertical plane, one beside the other, with seat 23 in front of seat 24.

Upon commencement of the unfolding of the unit the scissor arrangement 13 between the members 5 and 7, which is the foremost, begins to open so that its pin 22 starts moving, travelling first along a straight portion of the slot 31 in the appropriate plate 19.

Since this first portion of slot 31 is straight, the movement of the pin initially has no effect upon plate 19 which remains stationary. Upon completing its travel along the first portion of slot 31, pin 22 enters the further portion which extends obliquely to the first portion and causes rotation of the plate 19, and hence rotation of the associated seat 24, whilst seat 23 stays motionless.

When pin 22 completes its travel along this second portion of slot 31, it engages in slot 32 in the plate 20 causing this plate to rotate, which in turn causes seat 23 to begin to rotate.

In this way a time lapse is provided during which the seats 23 and 24 remain motionless after the start of unfolding of each part of the unit, at the end of this period (which is the time taken for pin 22 to travel along the first portion of the slot 31) seat 24 begins to move, whilst seat 23 remains motionless, so that seat 23 separates from seat 24 by an amount enabling it to revolve afterwards, (it being borne in mind that when clustered, seat 24 is in front of seat 23). Once seat 24 is clear of seat 23, seat 23 begins to rotate, and thereafter they continue their radial movements until the part of the unit they are associated with is fully extended, whereupon the two seats are in the positions shown in Figure 4.

All the above described stages are repeated in the course of unfolding the other parts of the framework of the unit so that when the unit is fully extended (as shown in Figures 5 and 6) all the seats 23 and 24 are arranged in positions in which they are ready for use as shown. When collapsing the folding framework of the unit the above operations occur in the reverse order, until the seats 23 and 24 are clustered together in pairs below the table.

When in position ready for use, the seats 23 and 24 are located at the sides of the table, in the way illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, and the following things are achieved: 1) When the user wishes to sit on one of the seats he may grasp it immediately without having to reach under the table as he would have had to do had the seats. not moved to the illustrated positions.

2) Any seat may be used, there being no need to touch or move any other seat.

3) When the seats are not in use, they remain in the illustrated positions causing no obstruction such as would prevent the table being used alone.

It is to be noted that when seats 23 and 24 are in position ready for use, the pin 22 in each set of plates 19 and 20 lies in the widened sections 33 and 35 of the slots 32 and 31 respectively, so that there is a certain amount of radial play in the position of said seats. This means that when it is wished to use one of seats, the user may revolve it to a certain extent by hand, this being enough to separate it from the unit and then for it to adopt its proper position for use. At the same time this feature means that seat is not held rigidly on its support but may be turned through an angle in either direction so as to make it easier for the user to move in and sit down, or move out after getting up, as well as to revolve slightly when sitting on it.

It is moreover to be noted that as slots 32 provide shorter travel for the pin 22 than do slots 31, the radial travel undergone by seats 23 is less than that of seats 24, so that the seats 23 are closer to the table 1 when ready for use, as may be seen from Figures 4 and 6. Therefore when the framework is being folded, (although seats 23 and 24 simultaneously begin to move toward the inside of the framework, seat 23 takes the lead and travels first to the folded position of the seats.

Moreover each seat 23 or 24 has a certain amount of vertical play, so that the leg 27 of the seat does not rest upon the floor until a user sits on the seat. In this way the radial movements of the seats 23 and 24 (which take place whilst the table 1 is being folded or unfolded) the seats are solely supported by the overhanging arm 74, so as to avoid damage to the floor and to facilitate the radial motion of the seats.

Since the vertical play of the seats 23 and 24 is achieved by means of the legs 26, the gear wheel 37 on each one leg is designed to be sufficiently wide to remain in engagement with the pinion wheel 39 in any position, adopted by the seat as may be seen from Figure 10.

From now on it will be necessary to distinguish between the seats 23 and 24 on the two sides of table 1 and the seats will hereinafter be denoted by the reference 3.

Now that description has been made of the general construction of the framework.

and of the way in which the seats 3 are arranged, description will be given of the construction of the table top on the basis of three panels 41, 42 and 43. which. when in the folded position of the framework, lie against one another, as can be seen from Figures 13 and 15.

Panel 41 rests on the running members 45 which are arranged in the guide 48, while at the same time the panel 41 is attached to the cover or door.

When initially opening the framework of the unit, it is necessary to apply a force to the handle on the cover 5 so that it will displace the first panel 41 of the table top 2 whilst the two other panels 42 and 43 of the table top 2 remain motionless. Panels 42 and 43 remain motionless until a roller 60 which runs along the inside of a section 55 on panel 42 contacts an opening 61 on the front end of panel 42. At this stage the following phenomena occur, (these being illustrated in an intermediate stage by Figures 22 and 23).

1) Wheel 46 of panel 41 has left the horizontal guide 54 on a supporting member 47 which is interlocked with stationary support 9 on the framework for table 1, so that panel 41 is now wholly and exclusively held by the end wheel 45 on guide 48.

2) Panels 42 and 43 begin to descend slopes 52 and 53 of supporting member 47, which they continue to do on wheels 46 and 67, until panel 42 adopts a position as an extension of panel 41 (as shown in Figures 15 and 16); meanwhile panel 43 takes up the position panel 42 had previously been in.

3) The attachment members 51 of panel 42 (see Figures 15 and 28) are in line with opening 65 on guide 48. As from this time, and due to the relative movement between panel 42 and guide 48 the protrusions or tongues on the guide become housed in the hollows on the attachment member 51 of panel 42.

4) Panel 42 now rests on the running members 45 arranged on guide 48 in rigidly attached to the support 7 (as may be seen from Figure 29).

If the motion is then continued in order to withdraw the table top to its full extent, panel 42 is positioned as an extension of panel 41 and both are withdrawn uniformly; at the same time, guide 48 (whose shape is that of an inverted omega) moves since the cover 5 is connected to the travelling support 7 by means of a corresponding articulated scissor arrangement 13, so that as soon as the relative motion between guide 48 and the attachment number 51 has taken place (due to the engagement as described) they travel together causing the panels 41 and 42 to move. Support 7 also advances but support 8 remains motionless.There is no movement of the remaining stationary members until the back end of panel 42 has been fully withdrawn; that is to say, until roller 60 of panel 42 has reached the housing 61 on panel 43, at this time the circumstances are as were described with roller 60 of panel 41 causing panel 42 to move, once there is engagement in housing 61 on this latter. Furthermore there has been relative movement of guides 48 and 49 such that opening 62 on guide 48 (which can be seen in Figure 28) is opposed to that referenced 63 on guide 49, additionally, at this time the attachment member 44 of panel 43 is in line with these two openings (as may be seen from Figure 30).

Attachment member 44 adopts this position when its protrusions are located so as to form a prolongation of those on the guide 48, (that is to say, when they occupy in opening 62), so that they may travel in with guide 48, and so that, when relative motion takes place between the guides 48 and 49, panel 43 will be held.

This sequence takes place as panel 43 descends slopes 52 and 53 in accordance with the travel of wheels 46 and 67 respec tively, until such time as wheel 46 reaches the horizontal guide 54 of attachment member 47 on the rear end of panel 43, while at the front end thereof, the attachment member 44 rests on guide 48. The member 44 will at the same time achieve engagement as previously described, preventing misalignment of the three panels 41, 42 and 43 which make up the table top 2.

The panels 41, 42 and 43 are provided at their adjacent edges with parts 68 and 69, enabling their assembly to be made in a continuous fashion in order to achieve a solid, compact and continuous table top (see Figure 32). Joint covers 64 are arranged on the front edge of panels 42 and 43, and these, (as may be seen from Figure 31) provide a covering 66 for the corresponding outside wheel 67, so that in the course of the folding or unfolding motion, it may travel along the slope 53 on the stationary support 47.

It will be appreciated from Figures 35 and 36 how the rim 70 is arranged in attachment with stationary support 47 and in front of slope 53, and that rim 70 serves to conceal the mechanism and to provide a pleasing appearance (in conjunction with cover 5).

Description will now be made of the mechanisms which form each seat 3 and enable the seats to be deployed. It is only necessary to grasp the back rest 71 of the seat and move the seat in a folding or unfolding direction for a series of harmonious motions to take place, until the seat 3 is in its correct position, with its back rest 71 and squab 72 in the correct plane.

For this purpose two bushes 81 are provided at the free end of supporting arm 74 (see Figure 40). One end of each said bush terminates in a polygonal head 80 and the bush nearer the centre of the unit has a protrusion 86, by which it may be interconnected with a leg 27. This bush 81 is also fitted with a guide pin 82 movable along length an "L'' shaped groove or slot 84 in holder 83.

The underside of seat 72 has supports 79 which have a semi-cylindrical groove terminating in a cavity 87. This shape in conjunction with holders 83 (the ends 85 of which have the shape shown) allow the bushes 81 and their polygonal heads 80 to be secured to the seat so that the bushes act as bearings allowing the seat 72 to be placed in position for use.

Each back rest 71 is rotatable with respect to its associated squab 72 and is connected to a sprung telescopic arm 76, the ends of which terminate at pivot centres 75 and 77.

When in the operational or service position of the seat 3 (as illustrated in Figures 37, 38 and 41) it will be seen how, on the one hand, bushes 81 with their heads 80 are fully accommodated and positioned with respect to supports 79, whilst on the other hand, the holders 83 are so positioned that their shanks or guide pins 82 are located in the end of the "L" shaped groove 84. In this position, the enlarged end or mouth 85 surrounds the polygonal head 80. causing the seat 72 to be held securely in position, with no possibility of its oscillating in use.

When it is desired to fold the seat 3, it is necessary only to apply to back rest 71 a rotational force in a direction along the supporting axis of arm 74, and when this is done the articulated quadrilateral shown therein, undergoes alteration in shape. This is to say, the sprung telescopic arm 76 is stretched, so that squab 72. and its holders 83 slide in the longitudinal direction (they are unable to revolve) since the shank or pin 82 is arranged so that it must slide along the whole length of slot 84. till it arrives at the termination point therein.

Thus longitudinal travel takes place so as to enable the enlarged ends or mouths 85 to be released from the polygonal heads 80, whereat the pin 82 coincide with the termination point in slot 84. At this time, seat 72 can revolve upon its supporting arm 74. This rotation is achieved by the forces which are applied to the back rest 71 and by virtue of the energy already accumulated in the sprung telescopic arm 76. This stage is illustrated in Figure 42, where the seat is half folded, and in which the pin 82 is shown to have begun its travel along the transversally extending part of slot 84, so that it will later reach the position (illustrated in Figure 43), where the back rest 71 lies against the seat 72, whilst pin 82 is located at the end of said slot 84 (which position is illustrated in Figure 39).

To perform the unfolding operation, it is sufficient for a force to be applied to the back rest 71 which will elevate it and compress the sprung telescopic arm 76, (whilst squab 72 rotates relative to supporting arm 74) as pin 82 is located at the end of slot 84 it will not allow it to travel longitudinally. The sprung telescopic arm 76 must have some degree of flexibility, (otherwise relative motion of the back rest 71 and the squab 72 will not enable travel, the pin 82 not allowing it to do so). Therefore the flexibility of the arm 76 to compensate for dimensional inequality of the relative travel motions, and to accumulate an amount of energy which is released during the final stage in the unfolding process.It is to be noted that provision is made for the transverse branch of the "L" shaped slot 84 to have a helical advance (should this be desired) to enable the application of automatic mechanization of the operation of the unit.

As the supporting arm 74 is arranged diagonally with respect to seat 72 and therefore the joints in the quadrilateral formed by the sprung telescopic arm 76, the back rest 71, the leg 27 and the seat 72 are not positioned in the same plane, it is necessary to provide that the sprung telescopic arm 76 has suitable means enabling it to function.

The detailed construction of the sprung telescopic arm 76 is shown schematically in Figure 44, where it is seen to comprise a tube 73 which houses two springs 90. The springs 90 together form a stop which is firmly attached to a shank 88. In this way it is possible to alter the length of the arm 76 both by extension and contraction with either of the two springs 90 being compressed.

As has already been mentioned arm 76 has a join at each of its ends allowing it to travel in the space, and these joints may be of the ball and socket type. In this particular case (which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings), joint 78 (between the back rest 71 and the seat 72) has an intermediate part which is pivotally mounted on an axis 77 parallel to the axis of joint 78. this part in turn being pivotally joined to the arm 76, on an axis 91 which is positioned normally of axis 77.

Moreover, shank 88 is pivotally joined to part 89 upon an axis 75, which is normal to foot 27, while in turn part 89 is rotatable about the foot 27.

Foot 27 has a support 92 at its bottom, the solid connection between the two parts being achieved by means of a set of parts comprising truncated cones 94 and 95, which, upon being drawn together, cause an enlargement to take place due to the pull which is applied by screw 93 even to the extent that they can deform the tube comprising foot 27, and in this way a highly compacted attachment is achieved.

Finally we would say that the particular construction of the feet 26 (which are required to provide the supporting body 25 for the arm 74 holding the seats 3 - in such a fashion that this supporting body 25 is arranged on leg 26 with the ability to rotate) whilst at the same time, there must be the possibility of it undergoing a certain amount of play in its height so that when the seats are unfolded - to stop their feet 27 rubbing on the floor - just as the weight of the user is imposed upon any of the seats 3 it is necessary to have a certain amount of clear descent for enabling the foot 27 to come into contact with the floor and thereby avoid the weight being borne by the wheel 110 belonging to the foot 26.

The feet 26 are provided with a system enabling them to undergo changes in their longitudinal dimension, (in order to become properly adapted to any unevenness of the surface upon which they are placed), but at the same time the system maintains the wheels 110 properly aligned with the direction in which unit is unfolded, to enable it to pass through its motions smoothly, when being unfolded and when being folded.

Each leg 26 has an outside tube 38 the middle part of which has an elbowed support 25 for an arm 74 of the appropriate seat 3 while the bottom end of the outside tube 38 ends in a ferrule 111 which does not rest upon the floor when seat 3 is unloaded.

An inner tube 116 is arranged coaxially of the outer tube 38 and its upper end is joined to the structure of the unit (it being in this way securely attached in position). Bushes 99 and 106 are arranged between the two tubes 38 and 116, and can slide longitudinally of the inner tube 116 and allow the outer tube to rotate about the inner tube. A washer 100 acts as an anti-friction part.

The outer tube 38 carries an elbowed support 25 for the horizontal arm 74, holding seat 3. The elbowed support 25 has a ring piece 121 attached to it and is located inside the outer tube 38. This ring piece 121 abuts, via an anti-friction washer 100, a bush 117 which surrounds the outside of inner tube 116. The bush 117 is (by means of a screw 119 which passes through a slotted groove 118 in the inner tube 116) joined to a block 101 which has a cavity for accommodating the end of a return spring 102.

If seat 3 is loaded, the force transmitted to the elbowed support 25 causes outer tube 38 to be displaced longitudinally (in the vertical direction) with respect to the inside tube 116, such longitudinal displacement being allowed by bushes 99 and 106. Once this longitudinal displacement has taken place, and return spring 102 is compressed, the bottom ferrule 111 rests upon the floor, so in this way the load on the seat 3 is not supported by wheel 110 on leg 26, but is carried by the outer tube 38 supported upon the floor by ferrule 111, and via foot 27 with which seat 3 is provided.

Bushes 99 and 106 together with the anti-friction washer 100 allow the outer tube 38 to rotate with respect to the inner tube 116 and this rotation is used to enable the seat to travel in an arc when moving from its unfolded position to the folded position, or vice-versa.

Figures 53 and 54 show details of the attachment of the elbowed support 25, and it will be seen how the screws 120 that attach it to the outside tube 38 also serve to grip a ring piece 121 which is located in the tube 38. The action stopping its rotation is assisted by the fact that horizontal arm 74 lightly grips the surface of the outside tube 38. As regards the securing of horizontal arm 74 to said elbowed piece 25, it will be seen that to immobilize it completely, there is in addition to the pressure exerted by a set of cones 128 and 129 (which are operated by means of the tension screw 130), on the half 127 of the two halves 127 and 126 into which the elbowed support 25 is divided to facilitate its assembly, a protrusion 131 which acts as an interlock with the rotation of the horizontal arm 74, when it enters a slot extending longitudinally therein.In this way the arm 74, which supports the seat 3, is ruggedly assembled.

The length of inside tube 116 may be varied to adapt it to the different requirements existing in each case due to there being some definite shape to the floor upon which the unit is to be installed, and to this end the support for wheel 110 ends at its top in a spindle 104 which is threaded into a bush 108, which in turn is attached to the inner tube 116. The end of spindle 104 is shaped in the form of a bevel conforming to the shape of another part 103, which can undergo guided travel in the inside tube 116 but cannot rotate therein (due to the head of bolt 115 which lies in a slotted groove 118 in the wall of tube 116).This other part 103 when compressed by spring 102, and when wheel 110 revolves causes spring 102 to compress and the bevelled parts disengage from one another, leading to an unstable condition overcome only when the bevelled parts are again lined up with one another.

This latter happens when the direction of travel of wheel 110 is in alignment with the direction in which the table 1 is being moved.

Outer tube 38 terminates at its bottom end in the ferrule 111, which in turn is threaded inside a bush 112 which is pressure fitted inside said outer tube 38, and hence if ferrule 111 is rotated it will enable the length of the outside tube 38 to be varied. In any case it is desirable to keep the difference in the measurement at the bottom, at a value such that the wheel 110 protrudes more than the bottom edge of the ferrule 111 so that the unfolding motion of the unit is properly performed. The ferrule 111 should touch the floor only when the seat 3 is loaded. For this purpose, the system is provided with an inter-related arrangement whereby any variation in the dimension of the outer tube 38 causes the same variation in length of the inside tube 116, so that the difference in length between them is maintained.In order to achieve this, the inside perimeter of the ferrule 111 is provided with two diametrically opposed lips 125 (see Figure 47) which abut against the ends of spindle 109 of wheel 110 so that when ferrule 111 is turned, spindle 109 is simultaneously rotated by the lips 125. Both rotate together and there is therefore a combined alteration in the length of both tubes (38 and 116) and in this way the difference which initially existed between them, is unchanged, for which purpose the pitches of both the threads must be the same.

The location of the lips 125 at one side of the ends of spindle 109 makes it possible for a rotation through an arc of almost 1800 to be described without abutment against the other end of spindle 109. This feature allows the outside tube 38 to rotate freely with respect to the inside tube 116 (within these limits) and it is used to assist with the travel or rotational movement of the seat 3.

The combination of the arrangement of the lips 125 and the presence of the bevelled pieces 103 and 104 means that adjustment of wheel 110 must be made in a complete number of turns, because although the bevelled pieces allow adjustment to be made in half turns, the position of which lips 125 would be located with respect to spindle 109 would not allow the seat 3 to revolve properly and emerge from the inside of the framework of the table 1.

Likewise, (and in order to prevent there being any accidental operation), the threaded portion of the ferrule 111 and that of the bush 112 are provided with a keyway groove which accommodates the protrusions 105 on a finishing piece 113 applied for decorative purposes, and in this way the assembly is secured against false adjustment.

Leg 26 is attached as an assembly to the structure of the table 1, the top end of its inside tube being located in a recess provided for this purpose on the table itself, and once this assembly has been completed by means of tightening a lock screw 96, pull as required is applied to a set of two cone pieces 97 and 98 so as to further improve the attachment of leg 26 to the rest of the structure.

The top end of outer tube 38 terminates in a piece 122 (see Figures 55, 56 and 57) having a friction surface 123 which, (when leg 26 is in its assembled position), rests directly upon a plate 124 attached to the structure. Since the spring 102 at all times urges the outer tube 38 toward the friction surface 123 the friction surface is constantly pressed up against the plate 124, and since the friction surface 123 has a suitably shaped outline, rotation of the outer tube 38 with respect to the inside tube 116 is such that at a certain position it tends to be held unless there is applied an outside force which will move it further. This allows the extreme folded position to be determined, wherein the seat 3 with the elbowed support 25 it is attached to, are folded away in the inside of the table framework.

From the accompanying drawings, it can be appreciated that there is a number of spacer and reinforcing bushes not described herein. These are not described as they are of an obvious nature and it is to be taken that both their constitution and function are apparent by simply examining said Figures.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A folding seat and table unit comprising an articulated assembly, which may be unfolded to an operational position in which seats in the unit are arranged in positions ready for use adjacent respective parts of the unit, and which may be folded to conceal the seats within a framework of the unit, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of supporting structures successively moveable away from a fixed supporting structure, said supporting structures being arranged generally parallel to one another, each adjacent pair of supporting structures being interconnected by a scissor arrangement associated therewith, ends of each said scissor arrangement being coupled to respective slides moveable on guides forming parts of each of the pair of supporting structures associated with that scissor arrangement, the extent of movement of said slides determining the amount by which each adjacent pair of supporting structures may move apart such that when the unit is unfolded a first supporting structure moves away from the next supporting structure adjacent it by an amount determined by the extent to which said slides may move after which movement said next supporting struc

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

travel of wheel 110 is in alignment with the direction in which the table 1 is being moved.

Outer tube 38 terminates at its bottom end in the ferrule 111, which in turn is threaded inside a bush 112 which is pressure fitted inside said outer tube 38, and hence if ferrule 111 is rotated it will enable the length of the outside tube 38 to be varied. In any case it is desirable to keep the difference in the measurement at the bottom, at a value such that the wheel 110 protrudes more than the bottom edge of the ferrule 111 so that the unfolding motion of the unit is properly performed. The ferrule 111 should touch the floor only when the seat 3 is loaded. For this purpose, the system is provided with an inter-related arrangement whereby any variation in the dimension of the outer tube 38 causes the same variation in length of the inside tube 116, so that the difference in length between them is maintained.In order to achieve this, the inside perimeter of the ferrule 111 is provided with two diametrically opposed lips 125 (see Figure 47) which abut against the ends of spindle 109 of wheel 110 so that when ferrule 111 is turned, spindle 109 is simultaneously rotated by the lips 125. Both rotate together and there is therefore a combined alteration in the length of both tubes (38 and 116) and in this way the difference which initially existed between them, is unchanged, for which purpose the pitches of both the threads must be the same.

The location of the lips 125 at one side of the ends of spindle 109 makes it possible for a rotation through an arc of almost 1800 to be described without abutment against the other end of spindle 109. This feature allows the outside tube 38 to rotate freely with respect to the inside tube 116 (within these limits) and it is used to assist with the travel or rotational movement of the seat 3.

The combination of the arrangement of the lips 125 and the presence of the bevelled pieces 103 and 104 means that adjustment of wheel 110 must be made in a complete number of turns, because although the bevelled pieces allow adjustment to be made in half turns, the position of which lips

125 would be located with respect to spindle 109 would not allow the seat 3 to revolve properly and emerge from the inside of the framework of the table 1.

Likewise, (and in order to prevent there being any accidental operation), the threaded portion of the ferrule 111 and that of the bush 112 are provided with a keyway groove which accommodates the protrusions 105 on a finishing piece 113 applied for decorative purposes, and in this way the assembly is secured against false adjustment.

Leg 26 is attached as an assembly to the structure of the table 1, the top end of its inside tube being located in a recess provided for this purpose on the table itself, and once this assembly has been completed by means of tightening a lock screw 96, pull as required is applied to a set of two cone pieces 97 and 98 so as to further improve the attachment of leg 26 to the rest of the structure.

The top end of outer tube 38 terminates in a piece 122 (see Figures 55, 56 and 57) having a friction surface 123 which, (when leg 26 is in its assembled position), rests directly upon a plate 124 attached to the structure. Since the spring 102 at all times urges the outer tube 38 toward the friction surface 123 the friction surface is constantly pressed up against the plate 124, and since the friction surface 123 has a suitably shaped outline, rotation of the outer tube 38 with respect to the inside tube 116 is such that at a certain position it tends to be held unless there is applied an outside force which will move it further. This allows the extreme folded position to be determined, wherein the seat 3 with the elbowed support 25 it is attached to, are folded away in the inside of the table framework.

From the accompanying drawings, it can be appreciated that there is a number of spacer and reinforcing bushes not described herein. These are not described as they are of an obvious nature and it is to be taken that both their constitution and function are apparent by simply examining said Figures.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A folding seat and table unit comprising an articulated assembly, which may be unfolded to an operational position in which seats in the unit are arranged in positions ready for use adjacent respective parts of the unit, and which may be folded to conceal the seats within a framework of the unit, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of supporting structures successively moveable away from a fixed supporting structure, said supporting structures being arranged generally parallel to one another, each adjacent pair of supporting structures being interconnected by a scissor arrangement associated therewith, ends of each said scissor arrangement being coupled to respective slides moveable on guides forming parts of each of the pair of supporting structures associated with that scissor arrangement, the extent of movement of said slides determining the amount by which each adjacent pair of supporting structures may move apart such that when the unit is unfolded a first supporting structure moves away from the next supporting structure adjacent it by an amount determined by the extent to which said slides may move after which movement said next supporting struc

ture begins to move away from the supporting structure next adjacent to it. and wherein the slides associated with the last moveable supporting structure of the unit are coupled by a joining piece rigidly fixed to one slide and including a slotted groove cooperating with a bolt carried by the other slide to define an amount of free movement and enabling the scissor arrangement associated with the last moveable supporting structure and said fixed supporting structure to have a longer range of travel than between any other pair of supporting structures.
2. A unit according to Claim 1, wherein the table is formed of a number of panels which when the unit is folded adopt positions in which they are located within a fixed part of the unit. and which when the unit is unfolded, are arranged on a number of supporting guides in line with one another and with their adjacent edges in abutment, means being provided for interconnecting the panels such that as one panel is moved horizontally it causes the next adjacent panel to travel with it, means being provided to enable horizontal movement of the panels, said horizontal movement enabling means having inclined slopes upon which wheels carried by the panels move so as to cause vertical movement of the panels when the panels are moved and wherein means are provided to releasably attach the panels to the support guides in response to both vertical and horizontal movement of the panels relative to the horizontal travel of the guides.
3. A unit according to Claim 1. wherein there are provided two overlapping plates individually corresponding to ones of a pair of seats disposed. when the units unfolded on opposite sides thereof, said plates being mounted for rotation on a common axis and each having a slot engageable by a moveable pin, said plates being further provided with toothed sectors engageable with pinion wheels for driving columns supporting the seats to rotate, the arrangement being such that movement of said pin causes rotation of said plates and hence of the seat supporting columns so as to cause said seats to travel from their concealed position towards the positions they adopt in use when the unit is being unfolded, and in the opposite sense when the unit is being folded.
4. A unit according to Claim 2, wherein the means interconnecting the panels are arranged are formed of sets of hook-shaped arms, the free end of each of which arms is provided with a roller engageable in a recess in a panel being moved and which may travel along a flange of an F-shaped section attached to the sides of each panel, and in which a central pivot spindle of said interconnecting means carries a roller which may travel along the slopes and guides of a stationary support.
5. A unit according to Claim 2, wherein an axle is provided at the rear side of each of said panels, each said axle carrying two rotatable members one of which lies outside said section and is arranged to travel along a slope on the stationary support and the other of which is arranged to protrude over the front and bottom of the panels so as to cause separation therebetween, both when the unit is being folded and when it is being unfolded, the first moved panel being provided with a part in a sloping plane and along which slope said rotatable member moves, said sloping plane comprising a stationary support having an identical outline to that of the slope so that the panels are arranged substantially parallel when they are moved.
6. A unit according to Claim 2 wherein the first panel rests upon travelling means when the unit is folded such that when unfolding starts that panel moves on said travelling means, the remaining panels staying motionless until that panel has been fully withdrawn whereupon the remaining panels begin to move and descend slopes until the second panel is located as a prolongation of said first panel.
7. A unit according to Claim 2, wherein the supporting structures have guides which allow them to become clustered within one another during the folding procedure, one guide being C-shaped and the other being U-shaped and having running means upon which the panels travel when they are in motion, wherein the second and remaining panels have means for attachment to the supporting structures and wherein the guides have notches formed in their flanges which are arranged to coincide with the attachment means of the panels when the panels begin to move.
8. A unit according to Claim 3, wherein movement of said pin is enabled by means incorporated in the respective slide on said scissor arrangement so that when the table is folded or unfolded there is rotation of the seats out of or into positions in which they may be used, wherein the first of said slots has a larger travel range so that said pin acts first thereupon, so as to cause the seat connected to its associated plate to be the first to begin its travel, this seat being when the unit is being unfolded located in front of the other seat so as to allow the other seat unobstructed travel in its movement when the unit is unfolded, the arrangement being such that, due to the shorter travel range of movement in the slot of the pin associated to the other seat, the other seat travels through a shorter distance in moving to the position it adopts in use so that when the unit is folded the other seat begins to move before the first mentioned seat and wherein each slot terminates at one end in an enlarged portion the arrangement being such that the pins can move transversely of said slots when the seats are in the positions they adopt when the unit is unfolded so as to enable a radial travel of the seats through a small angle allowing the seats to be moved by hand to the actual positions in which they are to be used.
9. A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3, wherein the seat is rotatable relative to a horizontal arm which it is supported, the seat be movable to different positions relative to the horizontal arm thereto and to its back-rest, there being provided means for holding the seat in the position it adopts in use and means which interconnect the angular movement of the back-rest of the seat relative to the seat, and guide means which ensure proper operational sequence of the various parts.
10. A unit according to Claim 9 wherein the means for holding the seat in the position it adopts in use comprise sliding bearings which terminate in polygonal heads each of which engages a respective holder terminating in an enlarged portion when the seat is in the position it adopts when the unit is unfolded and wherein in the interconnecting means comprise a sprung telescopic arm joining a back-rest to a foot of the seat, the ends of the telescopic arm defining the two bottom vertices of an quadrilateral the other two vertices of which are defined by the axis of the backrest about the seat, and the point of inter-section of the axis of rotation of the seat with respect to the foot.
11. A unit according to Claim 9, wherein the guide means comprise a pin fixed to the supporting arm, and an L-shaped slot formed such that one arm of the slot extends parallel to the direction of the supporting arm and the other arm of the slot runs normally thereof to ensure that axial travel of the seat relative to said supporting arm causes relative motion of the slot and the pin, the pin enabling the seat to be tipped about the supporting arm when moving along said other arm of the slot so that as the chair is unfolded its back-rest also unfolds comprising the sprung telescopic arm whereafter the seat moves longitudinally, such movement being assisted by the energy stored in the compressed telescopic arm, and wherein during the folding operation the telescopic arm extends and the seat slides upon the supporting arm causing disengagement of the locking bushes and when the pin reaches the transverse branch of the slot normal to the first branch of the slot folding of the seat takes place, the seat being tipped until it adopts an idle position its back-rest being flush with it and wherein the transverse arm of the L-shaped slot is provided with a helical advance.
12. A unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the legs of the table unit carrying the respective seats each comprise two coaxial tubes, the inner tube being fixed and having at its top end means enabling it to be attached to the structure of the table, and having at its bottom end a wheel and alignment means ensuring the wheel adopts a direction of travel in alignment with the direction in which the table is moving, whilst the outer tube has an elbowed support attachable to the supporting arm holding a respective seat the bottom end of the outer tube being provided with a ferrule the overall length of the outer tube and ferrule being slightly less than the length of the inner tube, means being provided for interconnecting both the tubes which ensure that they remain coaxially aligned, means being provided allowing movement of the outer tube relative to the inner tube under the bias of spring wherein the outer tube is rotatable relative to the inner tube, and wherein means are provided which enable variation of the length of either of the two tubes whilst maintaining the difference in their length to be maintained.
13. A unit as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the outer tube has a ring piece which by means of an anti-friction washer may be brought into abutment with a bush that surrounds the outside of the inner tube, the bush being joined, via an opening in the wall of the outer tube, to a block housed within the outer tube said block being in abutment with the end of a spring, and wherein slidable adjustment bushes are provided, the arrangement being such that the outer tube may evolve relative to the inner tube, enabling the seat to rotate and that the outer tube may move longitudinally relative to the inner tube so that said spring compresses when the seat is loaded and said ferrule contacts the floor whereby the inner tube does not support the whole of any load supplied to the seat.
14. A unit as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the support for the wheel has a shank threaded into a bush attached to the inner tube, the end of the shank being bevel-shaped and corresponding to another bevel shaped piece guidable within the inner tube and in abutment with and compressed by said spring, the arrangement being such that when the shank of the wheel rotates the length of the inner tube may be selectively varied whilst the bevel shaped pieces are disengaged, the spring being compressed so that a new stable position is obtained only when the bevelled pieces are again engaged.
15. A unit as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the ferrule on the outer tube threadably engages a bush which is friction fitted in said tube, and where in said ferrule has two steps or lips located diametrically opposite one another and abutting the ends of the travelling wheel spindle, the pitch of the threaded ferrule being the same as that of the shank of the support for the wheel, the arrangement being such that the assembly may screw in or out simultaneously enabling variation to be achieved in the combined length of the tubes whilst the difference in their lengths is maintained whilst due to rotation of the lips at one side only of the ends of the spindle it is possible for the wheel to rotate through approximately 180 without contacting the other end of the spindle, thereby enabling limitation of the amount of rotation of the outer relative to the inner tube and wherein provision is made for both said ferrule and its associated bush be splined to accommodate the feet belonging of finishing piece so that the assembly is locked and protected against accidental alterations to the adjustment.
16. A unit as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the leg is joined to the table structure by fitting the said inside tube into a circular recess in said structure, two tapered pieces being provided which may be operated by a screw to hold the inside tube in said circular recess, and wherein the uppermost end of the outer tube ends in a part having a friction slope contacting a supplementary plate attached to the table.
17. Folding seat and table unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.